In this episode of Helping The Brave Podcast, Ed Parcaut sits down with Cory Gold, an Army veteran and founder of Worth Their Weight, for a powerful conversation about military injury, PTSD, traumatic brain injury, disability benefits, and helping veterans get connected to the resources they earned.

Cory shares why he chose the Army, how his grandfather's service influenced him, and why he fought hard to get an Airborne Ranger contract. But his military path changed during Airborne School, when a bad exit, parachute malfunction, and hard landing left him with a broken back and traumatic brain injury.

After leaving the Army, Cory struggled for years without understanding the VA benefits system or what was happening in his own body and mind. He talks openly about pain, self-medication, losing jobs, mental health challenges, family separation, and the turning point that came from a conversation with a Marine at a dog park who asked about his VA rating.

That conversation started Cory's path toward treatment, disability compensation, stability, and eventually founding Worth Their Weight, an organization focused on helping veterans connect with representatives, services, and benefits that can change their lives.

Ed and Cory also discuss the battle buddy mindset, veteran suicide prevention, mental health access, VSOs, nexus letters, DBQs, VA claims tools, AI, and outreach to homeless veterans across the country.

This is an episode about what happens when veterans do not get the information they need, and how one conversation can change the entire direction of a life.

*Contact Ed Parcaut:**
- 🌍 Website: [edparcaut.com](http://edparcaut.com)
- 📱 Twitter: [@edparcaut](https://twitter.com)

For more resources and support, visit HelpingTheBrave.com.

#HelpingTheBrave #EdParcaut #CoryGold #WorthTheirWeight #VeteranBenefits #VADisability #PTSDRecovery #TBIRecovery #ArmyVeteran #AirborneSchool #VeteranMentalHealth #VeteransHelpingVeterans #HomelessVeterans #VAClaims #LifeAfterService

In this episode of Helping The Brave Podcast, Ed Parcaut sits down with Mark Barlet, an Air Force veteran and CEO of AccessForge, for a practical and honest conversation about service-connected disability, VA claims, invisible injuries, community care, and accessibility as a business advantage.

Mark shares why he chose the Air Force, how he became a lab tech focused on clinical microbiology, and how a fall down the stairs while working night shift changed the rest of his life. After breaking his spine and undergoing emergency surgery at Bethesda Naval Hospital, Mark found himself in a frustrating position: too disabled to stay in service, but not medically retired. Like many veterans, he had to learn how to navigate the VA after getting out.

Ed and Mark talk openly about VA disability ratings, why veterans underreport symptoms, the value of medical records, nexus letters, DBQs, out-processing physicals, and why veterans should not feel guilty for filing claims. Mark also shares how his own records later helped connect narcolepsy and sleep issues to service, including medication that would otherwise cost hundreds of thousands of dollars per year.

The second half of the conversation shifts into Mark's current work with AccessForge, where he helps businesses understand accessibility, invisible disability, customer experience, and the spending power of people with disabilities. He explains why one in five people lives with a disability, why most disabilities are not visible, and why businesses that treat disabled people as real customers can create better experiences and stronger revenue.

This is an episode about advocacy, access, documentation, disability, and helping veterans and businesses stop overlooking the people who need to be seen.

*Contact Ed Parcaut:**
- 🌍 Website: [edparcaut.com](http://edparcaut.com)
- 📱 Twitter: [@edparcaut](https://twitter.com)

For more resources and support, visit HelpingTheBrave.com.

#HelpingTheBrave #EdParcaut #MarkBarlet #AccessForge #VADisability #VeteranBenefits #InvisibleDisability #Accessibility #Section508 #CommunityCare #VeteransHelpingVeterans #DisabilityInclusion #AirForceVeteran #VeteranAdvocacy #LifeAfterService

Got a story worth hearing? Join Ed for Launch Your Podcast in 30 Days, a free live PodVeteran workshop on Thursday, October 29 at 6 PM PT / 9 PM ET. Learn the MIC Protocol (Mission, Identity, Content) and leave with your show's mission, your listener, a title and your first 3 episodes planned. Save your seat (replay included if you can't make it live): https://podveteran.com

In this episode of Helping The Brave Podcast, Ed Parcaut sits down with Patrick Thibeault for a wide-ranging conversation about Army service, airborne life, combat medicine, survival training, veteran healthcare, and writing through the weight of war.

Patrick shares why he chose the Army after growing up around Fort Bragg and watching paratroopers jump from aircraft. He talks about joining while still in high school, graduating in Korea while his father was stationed there, training at Fort Bliss, and becoming an Army medic, paratrooper, and later a flight medic. His path eventually took him into the 160th Special Operations Aviation community, where medics supported unique missions including search and rescue, casualty evacuation, helicopter refueling support, and recovery operations.

Ed and Patrick also discuss Desert Storm, Afghanistan, National Guard service, SERE School, and how survival training became a lifelong interest. Patrick explains how that experience helped shape his work as The TPP Suburban Prepper, where he teaches medical readiness, urban survival, city-specific preparedness, and practical survival skills for regular people living in suburban environments.

The conversation also gets personal. Patrick talks about becoming an RN, then a nurse practitioner, working at the VA, helping fellow veterans, and writing about his journey as a combat medic. He and Ed discuss PTSD, mental health access, community care, the importance of talking to somebody, and why veterans should not carry everything alone.

This is an episode about service, survival, medicine, memory, and continuing to help veterans long after the battlefield.

*Contact Ed Parcaut:**
- 🌍 Website: [edparcaut.com](http://edparcaut.com)
- 📱 Twitter: [@edparcaut](https://twitter.com)

For more resources and support, visit HelpingTheBrave.com.

#HelpingTheBrave #EdParcaut #PatrickThibeault #CombatMedic #ArmyVeteran #AirborneMedic #160thSOAR #DesertStorm #AfghanistanVeteran #VeteranMentalHealth #PTSDAwareness #SurvivalTraining #SuburbanPrepper #VeteranHealthcare #VeteransHelpingVeterans

Got a story worth hearing? Join Ed for Launch Your Podcast in 30 Days, a free live PodVeteran workshop on Thursday, October 29 at 6 PM PT / 9 PM ET. Learn the MIC Protocol (Mission, Identity, Content) and leave with your show's mission, your listener, a title and your first 3 episodes planned. Save your seat (replay included if you can't make it live): https://podveteran.com